Conveyer for ticket-distributing systems



.Fume i9, i923.

H. M. OTTO CONVEYER FOR vTICKET DISTRIBUTING YsTEMs 8, 19/20 3 Sheets-Sheet` l Filed Dec.

.une 39, T1923.

H. M. OTTO GONVEYER FOR TICKET DISTRI'BUTING SYSTEMS e. 1920 s sheew-sheet 2 Filed Dec.

Airy,

H. M. OTT() .COMVEYER FOR TICKET DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS me T9, 1923.

Filednec. 8, 1920 3 sheets-Sheet 5 www UNTE

S'Ees Fries.

HENRY M. OTTO, or CHICAGO, ILLINOs, AssrGNoR To WESTERN RLECTRTC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, or NEW irons, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

CONVEYER FOR TrCKnT-nrsTRIBUTING SYSTEMS.

Application filed December 8, 1920. Serial No. 429,256.

To all whom t may concer/n.:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. O'r'ro, a citizen OtI the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers for Ticket-Distributing Systems, of which the Afollowing is a "full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to mechanical ticket lo distributing systems, and particularly to ticket con'veyers therefor.

The Object of this invention is to employ motive means independent of the operator to move a ticket conveyer from a ticket ref ceiving position to a ticket depositing position, to disengage a ticket from the conveyer and deposit it in the distributing system.

rThe ticket conveyer or hoist of this in vention is particularly applicable to mechanical toll ticket distributing systems, em'- ployed in telephone exchanges tor the routing ot tickets, on which information concerning telephone connections desired has been entered, to the proper switchboard attendants for their action. In systems of the type mentioned itis customary to operate a trolley with a ticket propelling' arm on an endless belt, said propelling arm conveying tickets from a recording and distributing desk, where. they have been inserted in properly videntified guides, to the Operators in charge ot the class of connections called for on said tickets and, coincident with the above action, propelling any tickets, on which instructions may have been complied with and time notes on the call entered by the switchboard operators, to the filing desk for use of the clerical stati. Heretotore means provided for the deposit of these complete tickets in a return guide by the operators has been actuated manuallyby the operators.

rJlhis invention provides in a. mechanical ticket distributing system, a means whereby the switchboard operators may conveniently and reliably hoist completed information tickets from the switchboard sheltlevel to a return guide of a mechanical ticket distributing system, located at the topo'f the switchboard and-engages'aid ticketin aspur guide, communicating with said return guide, in proper condition for collection. 'The power required `to` operate the hoist tion. Fig. 2 discloses a top view' of the main guide, the ticket hoisting carriage and the spur guide, in which the ticket is placed by said ticket carriage in position for collection into the main ticketguide-- Fig..3 disl closes an enlarged side view of the ticket hoisting carriage in position'for placing the ticket held therein in the spurguide in condition for collection. A. portion of the wall of the spur guide is cut away to more clearly show `the construction. Fig. l discloses `an endwise sectional view or" the main ticket guide, the spur guide having a serrated `U- shaped channel therein and the powe-r-hoisting carriage at the eXtreme upper limit of its travel with the ticket projecting into the spur guide, but not in its iinal position for collection. This ig'ure also discloses fthe means whereby the ticket is brought from its initial position in the spur guide toits final position for collection. Fig. 5 discloses the same view and apparatus as Fig.4,' but with the ticket hoisting carriage in itsvr descending position, and theticket placed in its final position for collection and about to be released from the holding fingers of the ticket hoisting carriage. Fig. 6 discloses the. same view and apparatus as Fig. l, except that the mechanism for connecting the power is shownat the left side of the ticket hoist. Fig. 7 discloses a top View of straight main ticket guides just' after passing a 4curved section thereof, shown at the right hand side of the figure, two spur guides and hoisting space therein. The spur guide at the lett.

would have its power connecting mechanism arranged as'disclosed in Fig. l. The` spur guide at'the' right would haveits power connecting mechanism-arranged disclosed in Fig. 6, a source O'H-power, a trolley track, a

65 the ticket deposited in position for collecy board shelf level to a location adjacent the l v on top of the vswitchboard structure.

ticket distributing system guides mounted A cable 5 is attached to said carriage frame 1 by cable eye 6, extending therefrom and over a series of pulleys andvconnecting fiX- edly with point 7 on the framework of the inain ticket guide 19. To raise the ticket carriage a power connector is employed, consisting of a framework 8 having a power engaging finger 9 integral therewith, guide rollers 10 and cable pulley 11 attached thereto, said power connector operable in a guide track 12 curved at the ends in such a way as to leave the power connector normally out of engagement with a source of power, and to release the power co-nnection, when engagement has been effected, at a predetermined point in the upward travel of the ticket carriage. The power is obtained from the main driving belt of the system to which is permanently attached the trolley 13, having a ticket propelling arm 14 engageable with the finger 9 of the power connector, when said power connector is moved up the curve of its guide track a s uiiicient amount. The cooperation between the power connector and the ticket hoisting` carriage is effected by looping the cable 5 over the cable pulley 11 on the power connector frame at a point adjacent the fixed cable ,connection 7. The cable connection mentioned will give the mechanism a mechanical advantage of sub stantially one-half, whether the power connector is located at the right side of the carriage guides 4, o-r at the left side thereof.

Howeverg if located on the right side, guide pulleys 25 and 26 areconsidered desirable, and, if located on the left side, pulley 26 may be dispensed with andi 25 retained. A power connector adjusting means. is employed consisting of a substantially vertical member 15, having a diagonal slot or cam 1G cut in its upper portion, a lateral member 17 with a pin 18 cooperating with said cam slot 16 and said lateral member 17 slidably attached to the main ticket guide 19 by retaining pieces 20. The above mentioned vertical member is also slidably mounted on the vertical carriage guide 4 by retainingpieces 20. At the opposite end of said lateral member 17 from the pin 18 is attached a block 21 by means of a link 22, said block constituting a stop for the power connector frame 8 when the carriage is in its lowest position. The adjustment of the power connector is effected by manually raising the vertical member 15 which imparts a lateral motion to member 17 by means of' the slot and pin before mentioned, and moves block 21 and the power connector frame with which it is in contact at that time from the curved portion of .the connector guide track to ysuch a position that the power connector finger 9 is projected upward in the path of an oncoming ticket propeller finger 14. Upon engagement therewith, the power connector is moved through the length of its guide track, pulling the ticket carriage 1 to the top of its guides 4. Upon reachingthis position, the power connector runs into a second curved portion thereof which depresses the power finger 9 tol such a position as to lose its engagement with the source of power. Upon release of its connection with the source of power, the ticketv carriage falls through its guides by force of gravity and returns the power connector to its original end of the guide track, at which location it comes in contact with the block 21 and by this impact moves the block and its connected members into the original position and ready for a repetition of theV above complete operation. Tov retain the power connector adjusting means in its operated position until the ticket carriage is raised, a clip spring 23 attached to the carriage guide 4 is arranged t0 coo-perate with a cam 24 mounted on the vertical member 15. Impact with the stop block 21 serves to disengage said spring 23 from cam 24 and return the apparatus to original condition as before mentioned.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is disclosed a top view of the ticket carriage 1, and ticket retaining fingers 3, the top of carriage guides 4k and the spur guide 27, composed substantially of two side walls and a floor cut away in such fashion as to freely admit the ticket 29 held in the said fingers 3, and bent up so as to form a short discontinuous channel 28 intermediate the saidI side walls for disengaging said ticket 29 and retaining it in a position for collection.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 there is disclosed a main ticket guide 1.9, a. spur guide 27 with guide channel 28, said spur guide having a portion cut away in such manner as to admit the enlarged heads of the carriage guides 4 intermediate said main guide and said spur guide.` A ticket carriage 1 is shown in its position ofpextreme upward travel in said carriage guides 4, carriage fingers 3 mounted on the carriage framework at 'the side of and in a plane parallel thereto, the ticket 29 flexibly held in said fingers and projecting into the spur guide 27 in a substantially vertical position. In the enlarged heads of said carriage guides are mounted cams 30 and 3l retainedby substantially- Vertical guides, means screws 32-and springsf`33l in sucha position thatthe ticket carriage-upon its ascent will push cam 30 to'one sideuntilthefirst guide wheel 2 has passed, whereupon cam 30 returns to its normal position by action of spring 33. Upon its descent ticket carriage 1 must-now pass over a different route than that traversed upon ascent due-to the guiding action of cam 30, which forces the ticket carriage toward the side of the spur guide 27 and the fingers of said ticket carriage through the openings between the before mentionedv discontinuous portions of guide channel 28, the portionsof said guide channel 28, hooking the lower' edger of the ticket 29, and disengaging it from the ticket holding ingers'3, whereupon the ticket-carriage continues in its descent pushing cam 3.1 to one side until the' upper guide wheel of the carriage moves beyond said camv 31, whereupon it returns to its normal position as shown in Fig. 4 by action of its spring 33. F rom thispoint theA empty. ticket carriage descends the substantially vertical carriage guides, until arrested by block v2l shown in Fig. l as before mentioned.`

lVhat is claimed is:

l. In a ticket distributing system, in combination, a ticket hoisting carriage, means for holding a ticket therein, a continuously operating source of power, means for lconnecting said carriage with said source of power, meansfor automatically disengaging said carriage from said power and means for automatically disengaging said ticket in a condition for collection,

2. In a mechanical ticket distributing system, a. ticket hoisting carriage to travelfin or holding a ticket flexiblyy in said carriagefa continuously operating source of power, means for connecting said' carriage with said source of power, means for automatically disengaging saidA carriage from said power and means for' automatically disengaging a 'ticket from-said carriage in a position for collection.

3. In a mechanical ticket distributing system, a ticketv hoisting carriage to travel in substantially vertical guides, fingers von said carriage adapted to hold a ticket by friction, a Vcontinuously operating source of power, means for connecting saidl carriage with said source of power, means for automatically disengaging said' carriagey from said power and means for automatically disengaging a ticket in a positionforcollection.

4. In a mechanical ticket conveying system, a ticket hoisting carriage, means for holding a ticket therein, a source ofpower comprising a continuouslyl moving'belt and afpower connector engageabletherewith and connected to said carr-iagefbyf` a cabler and pulley system.

5. In f1-.mechanical ticket-conveying system, a ticket hoisting-carriage, means for holding a ticket therein, a sourceof power comprising a driving belt and a power connector engageable therewith and connected to said-carriage'by `a cable and pulley system'arranged toA lift the ticket `carriage at a greater speedthan that ofthe driving belt from whichpower is derived.

6. In a mechanical ticket conveying? system, a ticket'hoisting carriage, means for holding a ticket therein, a source of power comprising a driving belt and a power connector engageabletherewith, and connected to said carriage by a cable and pulley system arranged to liftv the ticket carriage at a speed substantially equal to twice that of the driving lbelt from which power is derived, l n

7 In a ticket hoistingmechanism, a retaining frame therefor, a ticket hoisting carriage, a sourceof power, a power connector arranged to travel in a guide track, j a cable pulley on said power connector, a cable having one end attached to said hoisting carriage, thence passing over said power connector pulley and having its other end ixedly attached to some point on said retaining frame, in such a manner as to` give the hoisting mechanism a mechanical advantage of one half. p

`8. In a mechanical ticketconveyer system, a ticket hoisting carriage, means for holding a-tickettherein, a source of power, a power connector engageable therewith, consisting of a frame work having a power engaging finger integral'` therewith, guide wheels attached to the frame, a pulley wheel att-ached thereon serving as al connectingmedium between said hoisting carriage and said power c'onnector, and a trackin which saidy power connector guide wheels may travel.

9. In a ticket hoisting mechanism, a ticket hoisting carriage and' a power connector adapted to occupy `two positions horizontally, said carriage and connector arranged when inmoti'on to .approach a common point at onetime, `and to recede from said point at another time dependent on the location of said power, connector.

10. In a vticket hoisting Amechanism, a source of power, a ticket hoisting carriage to travel'in a substantially vertical direction, a power connector attached thereto to travel in a substantially horizontal direction, and a track therefor, straight in the midportion to keep said power connector in engagement with said source of power and curved at both ends tovdisengage saidpower connector from said source of power.

1l. In a mechanical ticket distributing system,- a source ofpower residing in a moving belt, a ticket collector trolley vmechanism zattachedthereto, a trolleyl track therefor,a

ticket-1hoisting,v carriage, a movable power connector-therefor located obliquelybeneath said power belt oftrolley track,.apower con-l nector guide track parallel to the trolley track throughout its midportion, but*y so curved at both ends as to leave said power connector free of engagement withk said trol` ley'mechanism. i i i l2. Ina ticket hoisting mechanism, -a retaining frame therefor, a source of power, a trolleyvattached thereto, a power connector, a guide track therefor so bent at both ends as to normally maintain said power connector out of engagement with said source of power at both ends of the travel of said powerconiiector, and means for movingsaid power connector into position for engaging said trolley.v f Y l 13. In a ticketh'oisting mechanism, are'- taining frame therefor, a source of power, a trolley attached thereto, a power connector, a guide track therefor sobent at both ends yto normally maintain said'power connector out of engagement with said source of power both ends of the travel of said power connector, and manua-lly operated means -for moving said powerconnector into position for engaging said trolley. .K f I lt. In a ticket hoisting` mechanism, arevtaining frame therefor, a source of power,a

trolley attached thereto, a power connector, a guide track therefor so bent at both ends as to normally maintain said power connector 'out of engagement with said source of power at both ends of the travel of said power connector, and manually operated means consisting of two main members substantially at right angles to each other andslidably attached to said frame for moving said power connector into position for vengaging said vl5. In a ticket hoisting mechanism, a retaining frame therefor, a source of power, a trolley attached thereto, a power connector,

.a guide track therefor so bent atboth ends as to normally.`maintainvsaid power` connector out of engagement with said source of power at both ends of the travel of said power connector, and manually operated means con-A sisting of two main members slidably connected in such manner that an upward motion of one member imparts a lateral motion to the other member, said members being siidably attached to said frame formoving said power connectorinto positionfor engagingsaid trolley. c

16. In a ticket hoisting mechanism, `a frame-work therefor, a source .of power, a ticket hoisting` carriage, a power connector, a guide track therefor, a cable iiXedly attached at 'one end to said framework, passing around a pulley on said power connector, and attached at its other end to said ticket hoisting carriage, and a manually operated means, consisting of a vertical member, a lateral member slidably connected thereto, a blockconnected with one end of said lateral member, saidpowerconnector normally resting against said block, all collectively so arranged tl'iataii upward motion `of said vertical member will move said power connector into proper position .for engagement with said source of p'ower. l*

17. In algticket hoistingk mechanism, a framework"therefor, a so-urce of power,:a power connector, la: means consisting mainly of'a verticalcmember, and a lateral member with blockl attached theretoffor` adjusting said power connector ina position engageable with said source oflpower, a camon one of said adjusting members, and a spring clip attached lto said frame-,work and engageable with said cam to i retain said" adjustment `meansiii itsy operated lposition until 'subsequently'release p18. n a ticket hoisting. mechanism, al

framework therefor, a source lof power, a powerconnector, a means consisting mainly lof a vertical membe'i,and` a lateral member with'block attached/thereto for adjusting said power connector in a position engageablewitli said source 'of power, a cam on one of said. adjusting members, and a spring clip 1guides, for causing said vcarriage toA descend cending. f a i Y 20. ln a mechanicalticket conveying sysover 'avdiflerent routethan that usedlfor astem, a main vticket guide, aspur vguidecoin- YInunicable with rsaid main guide, a ticket hoisting carriage, means for holding a ticket y therein, means foi' lioistiiig said carriage, substantially vertical guidesffor ,said carriage, and means at the top of said carriage guides for automaticallj'f causing-said carriage to descendy over a vdifferent route than `that fused for ascending 2l. In a mechanical ticket conveying system, a main U-shapedfticket guide, a spar guide having' three walls, one continuous, a second partially cut away, and a third wall intermediate lthe before mentioned walls .shorter in height' and -discontinuous inv its length, and'na' base for saidspur guide er tending fromandfconnecting said iirst wall 1to said ythird wall except at such locationsv as said third wall becomes discontinuous.

22. 4In amechanical ticket conveying system, a ticket carriage,fingers for holding a ticket in said carriage, a main'ticket guide, a spur guide comprising two main side walls, 4

a base joining said side walls, except at the side corner which is cut away adjoining said main ticket guide for admission of a ticket therethrough and a plurality of slots in the remaining portion of said base extending from said cut-away corner to the other main side wall for admission of said ticket fingers therethrough, and a bent-up edge on the remaining portions of said base intermediate said main side walls to form a temporary resting place communicating with said main ticket guide for a ticket.

23. In a ticket conveying system, the combination of a main ticket guide, a spur guide communicating therewith, a ticket hoisting carriage, means for holding a ticket therein, and said carriage cooperable with said spur guide to place a ticket therein in position for propulsion into said main ticket guide.

24. In a ticket conveying system, a main ticket guide, a spur guide communicating therewith, a ticket hoisting carriage, means for holding a ticket therein, guides for said carriage arranged in'their main portions to maintain said carriage in a substantialiy vertical plane during both ascent and de'- scent, and arranged in their upper portions to maintain said carriage in a substantially vertical plane during ascent and in a varying oblique plane during descent.

25. In a mechanical ticket conveying sys tem, a main ticket guide, a spur guide communicating therewith, a ticket hoisting car-k riage, means for holding a ticket therein, guides for said carriage having an enlarged portion at their upper ends, and a plurality of cams in said enlarged carriage guide ends for causing said ticket carriage to follow a different route in descent from that used in ascent.

26. In a mechanical ticket conveying system, a main ticket guide, a spur guide communicating therewith, a ticket hoisting carriage, means for holding a ticket therein, said spur guide having a cornerwise opening to freely admit said ticket, said spur guide having a serrated Ushaped channel so located as to allow said carriage on its ascent to move said ticket into said spur guide in a substantially vertical position, and on the descent of said carriage to allow it to move through the cornerwise opening of said spur guide, said serrated U-shaped channel engageable with a ticket for disengaging it from said carriage and retaining a ticket in position for collection.

27. In a mechanical ticket conveying system in combination, a main ticket guide, a spur guide with a cornerwise opening and serrated U-shaped channel adajacentl to said opening, a ticket hoisting carriage, means for holding a ticket therein, and a pair of guides for said carriage with enlarged heads and spring,v actuated carriage guiding cams therein, said enlarged carriage guide heads being adapted to fit in said cornerwise opening for effecting the transfer of said ticket from said carriage to said serrated U-shaped channel of said spur guide.

28. In a mechanical ticket hoisting mechanism in combination, a ticket hoisting carriage, comprising a substantially rectangular frame-work, guidie wheelsv rota',-v

tably attached at the four corners and cutside thereof, ticket holding fingers attached near the top and in a parallel plane at one side of said frame-work, a cable rconnection on top of said frame-work, a pair of channel shaped carriagev guides with enlarged heads,

and spring actuated camsin said heads engageable with said guide wheels for automatically routing the travel of said carriage.'

29. In a ticket conveying system, a carn `riage, a continuously driven belt, means'intermittently engageable therewith, and means interconnecting said means and said carriage for moving said carriage. 30. In a ticket conveying system, a ticket hoisting carriage adapted to `travel in a vertical plane, means for holding a ticket therein, a trolley adapted to travel in a horizontal plane, a propeller finger attached to said trolley, a power connector engageable with said propeller finger, and means to impart the horizontal movementof said trolley to the hoisting carriage upon engage-r ment of said propeller finger and said power connector,the speed of the hoisting carriageto be twice the speed of said trolley.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my vname this 30th 1920.

HENRY M. OTTO.

day of November, A. D., 

